On campus

Ambulance call for caring young people

An NHS organisation that provides a vital transport lifeline for
people across the North East is driving forward with plans to
create new opportunities for apprentices.

The North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) is
looking for around 20 apprentices to join the customer service
team, gaining work experience and a qualification through Gateshead
College.

The new patient transport service (PTS) apprentices and PTS
contact centre customer service apprentices will support the
organisation to deliver health care services across the North
East.

Susan Richardson, NEAS training and development manager, said:
"We're looking for enthusiastic and focussed individuals to join us
as apprentices and help the organisation to continue to deliver the
right care, right place at the right time across the whole of the
North East.

"We're investing in people from the local community and
equipping them with the skills to be able to complete vital roles
within the organisation. We feel apprenticeships are a fantastic
way to recruit loyal and long-serving employees who will be able to
deliver a consistently high service to the customers and patients
who access our services.

"These apprenticeships will give candidates a great start to a
career for those who want to work in the healthcare
environment."

The apprenticeship, which is open to anyone, including those
leaving school this summer, will take 12 months to complete and
learners will be paid £100 per week. They will complete educational
studies one day a week through Gateshead College to gain an
Apprenticeship in Customer Service.

All apprentices will be given a full induction to their
workplace and those who undertake their apprenticeship on PTS will
be given the opportunity to gain their C1 larger goods vehicle
license.

The PTS apprentices will need to have a driving licence as they
will be working on vehicles to safely transport patients across the
region to hospital appointments. Those who join the PTS contact
centre customer service apprenticeship will answer telephone
enquiries, bookings and record information ready for the PTS
journey.

Joanne Dodson at Gateshead College said: "Lots of young people
are currently approaching a time of year when they will be leaving
school or coming to the end of their current course and considering
what to do next.

"An apprenticeship is a fantastic way to build a career by
gaining skills and training while receiving a regular wage. The
opportunity to join the NEAS is fantastic news for anyone looking
for a public-facing role which provides new challenges every
day.

"We're delighted to be working with the organisation to deliver
the qualification."

NEAS has already invested in business administration and motor
vehicle mechanic apprenticeships and their success has driven them
to invest in this new apprenticeship. The new apprentices will be
based across the North East and will assist NEAS to continue to
provide high quality services to 2.55 million people who live in
the region.

Anyone looking to apply for an apprentice position in the NEAS
is invited to attend an open day this Thursday May 31 between
4.30pm and 6.30pm at Gateshead College's Skills Academy for
Construction in Team Valley.